Why campers should buy local firewood
Invasive insects and plant diseases can travel inside untreated firewood, including wood that looks healthy. Buy firewood where you burn it or use certified heat-treated wood when current rules allow it.
Do not load untreated firewood from home by default.
Check the campground's rule and current fire restrictions first. Many destinations sell approved wood onsite or identify nearby sources.
Firewood decision tool
Check the official rule firstDo not transport or purchase wood until the current restriction is known.
Why untreated wood is a problem
Wood-boring insects and disease organisms can be hidden under bark or inside logs. A vehicle can move them much farther than they would spread naturally, introducing them to forests that have little defense.
What to do with leftover wood
- Follow the campground's instructions.
- Do not take untreated leftovers to a new area.
- Do not collect wood unless the destination explicitly permits it.
- Keep a no-fire cooking and lighting plan in case restrictions change.
“Local” is not one universal mileage. Quarantines, states, forests, and campgrounds can define allowed movement differently.
Sources
- USDA APHIS: Only Buy Firewood Where You Burn It — current federal guidance on local and certified heat-treated firewood.
- USDA APHIS: Emerald Ash Borer — explains how people spread a destructive invasive insect through firewood and wood products.
Use fire only when it is allowed and manageable.